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West Ham boss Allardyce targeting Dubai revitalization

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce hopes a winter getaway to warm Dubai will help revitalize his players.

The Hammers headed away this time last year and it turned out well as they went on to gain promotion to the Premier League via the Championship playoff process and Allardyce has his fingers crossed that the same can happen again, this time in a bid to keep the East London club away from the relegation zone.

"It worked last year, we had a fantastic finish to the season and I still think the trip that we had at this time last year was a big benefit in the end for getting us promoted into the Premier League," Allardyce said on West Ham TV.

"I have talked to a lot of managers and they have already taken the opportunity to get away when they can, a few more (teams) are going around the same time as us and some more afterwards.

"Nearly everybody does it today which obviously is a benefit to you and the team, and the results when you come back."

He added: "When the lads can train in short sleeves and shorts, they don't want to finish training, they just want to carry on. You get an awful lot more out of them.

"The benefits mentally will be massive. The pressure on players today is enormous in the Barclays Premier League, it is all around you, all the time, 24/7. So to go away and recuperate physically and mentally is a big, big thing for us."

About the author

Andrew Slevison is an avid sports fan, particularly of the world game. The Melbourne, Australia native, who has spent time living in London and travelling South America, takes a keen interest in the English Premier League and Major League Soccer and rates his best live footballing moment as the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.